2nd Wind Exercise Equipment Blog

ulia Havey, the author of Awaken the Diet Within and the popular LifeChanger weight loss program, has endorsed the award-winning Octane Fitness elliptical cross trainers as ideal equipment for calorie-blasting, fat burning, effective and efficient workouts.
Havey, who owns Octane's premium Q45e model (just named a Consumer Guide Best Buy), created the LifeChanger Program that has inspired hundreds to lose weight and get fit. And Havey knows just how tough this can be for Americans, as she herself struggled after having two children with overeating and weight gain, wearing a size 26 and unsuccessfully dieting for 10 years.

"I love this machine, and have recently lost 14 pounds in two months by using it at least 30 minutes a day," said Havey, who lost 130 of her former 290 pounds in just more than a year. "The programs keep me challenged and getting the results I'm after, plus the unique SmartStride makes the elliptical fit my body perfectly."

Her program is based on simple, vice-busting steps with a foundation of building self-esteem and self-improvement through self-motivation.

"I never did anything drastic, but just focused on eating healthy, exercising and changing one habit at a time," Havey said. "I created the LifeChanger program so I can teach everyone to benefit from my tried and true plan.

"My program is all about slow, baby steps that empower people so that they are more likely to continue to succeed," said Havey. "And the Octane ellipticals accommodate beginning exercisers and take them along all the way to elite fitness levels over time. That's why I recommend Octane for incredible, total-body workouts like no other."

In fact, Havey was so successful at remaking herself that she won the Mrs. Missouri pageant and came in 14th in the Mrs. USA pageant with a "war on obesity" platform. Havey also serves as the Master Motivator for the audience of 14 million at eDiets.com, has appeared on QVC and has written a new book, The Vice-Busting Diet, which will be published in January 2006.

All About Ergonomics and Electronics

Octane's award-winning ellipticals are based on the exclusive, scientifically designed Body-Mapping Ergonomics and patented QuadLink drive that deliver the most comfortable and biomechanically effective exercise-with features like a low step-up height, the closest pedal spacing in the industry at two inches and articulating pedals that support the feet throughout each stride.

Plus, exclusive to Octane Fitness is the patent-pending SmartStride, designed after extensive research and motion analysis to best replicate movements like walking, jogging, running and moving backwards. SmartStride monitors an exerciser's pace and direction and automatically adjusts the stride length accordingly to custom fit different activities.

Upper-body movement is perfected with Octane's proprietary, distinctive MultiGrip handlebars that offer contoured grips and various biomechanically correct positions that accommodate exercisers of all sizes, recruit numerous upper-body muscles to improve strength and significantly enhance total-body motion.

Furthermore, HeartLogic Intelligence provides smart, efficient, interactive workouts, and DedicatedLogic programming enables changes to the workout, time or resistance "on the fly."

"Positive feedback like Julia's fuels our passionate quest to producing elliptical trainers that make exercise more effective and enjoyable," said Tim Porth, executive vice president of product development and marketing for Octane Fitness.

Octane Fitness Background

Together with more than 28 years of experience in the fitness industry, Dennis Lee and Tim Porth founded Octane Fitness in 2001. Fueled by a relentless passion to offer the best elliptical machines, the company is committed exclusively to delivering breakthrough, performance cross training- unlike any other fitness equipment manufacturer today. Elliptical cross trainers are the sole focus of Octane Fitness' extensive research, development, testing and manufacturing-all ultimately to benefit exercisers with superior quality products; innovative, effective workouts and unparalleled personalized service.

Posted by Dick Enrico at 10:34 AM | Octane Fitness Elliptical Cross Trainers Ideal for Weight Loss, Says Expert Julia Havey | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you work out at a health club you probably noticed that in the last few years there are fewer treadmills, because they are being replaced by elliptical trainers. And although treadmills still outsell ellipticals in total numbers, elliptical sales are growing at a faster rate.

What is driving the popularity of elliptical trainers? There are two factors that make elliptical trainers so appealing:

Low Impact Workout
Upper and Lower Body Workout

Benefits of a Low Impact Workout

Most types of exercise require some type of impact and/or reverse action. For example, when you walk each step is impacting force on your ankles, knees and lower back. That impact is minor in comparison to running, which can be as much as 2.5x your body weight. Over the years that constant pounding can result in long-term injuries and strains.

Elliptical trainers reduce the hazards of impact through an elliptical motion.It feels like you are naturally walking or running without any real impact or reverse action, and yet it is a weight bearing exercise that contributes to building muscle and bone density.

If you look at the side of an elliptical trainer you’ll notice the shape of the motion is like a flat circular pattern. Budget ellipticals tend to be more circular and bouncy, while quality machines have a flatter circular motion and more of an even stride. Regardless, the elliptical motion significantly reduces the impact to your joints, and that is why elliptical trainers are appealing to older individuals and people with injuries. It is becoming the exercise machine of choice for the “baby boomers.”

Benefits of an Upper and Lower Body Workout

The concept of exercising the upper and lower body simultaneously is revolutionary. An elliptical workout utilizes the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, chest, back, triceps and biceps. There is no other machine that offers this benefit. You are not only exercising more muscle group, you are also optimizing your energy expenditure. That means it is taking less time to achieve more results, like burning calories and increasing your cardio capacity. A number of elliptical trainers allow you to reverse the motion, thereby emphasizing resistance to even more parts of your muscles.

By exercising more of your muscle mass you improve fat mobilization, which results in burning more calories and building muscle endurance more efficiently. Certain experts have suggested that this dual action process reduces the perceived rate of exertion. In other words, you are exercising harder without a noticeable difference from a less strenuous workout.

The benefit of an upper and lower body workout, combined with low impact exercising, are the reasons why elliptical trainers are so popular. And there is one other feature that should be noted. In comparison to treadmills, elliptical trainers require considerably less maintenance. That is due to the fact there are fewer moving parts, and less wear from impact.

If you haven’t tried an elliptical trainer, get to your local health club or a fitness equipment store and take one for an elliptical spin. Avoid the budget models and test the machines that are at least $1,000+. They have a more natural elliptical motion and are more stable and durable.

You’ll find that an elliptical trainer can have a major impact on your health and fitness.

Posted by Dick Enrico at 04:00 PM | Why Elliptical Trainers are Growing in Popularity! | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Nobody wants to spend time maintaining his or her treadmill. It’s a lot more fun to run than to work. But that treadmill is an expensive piece of equipment. Your training runs put a lot of stress on the nuts, bolts, deck and belt. If you do not spend a short amount of time to properly maintain it you will shorten its life and my need expensive repairs.

Routine maintenance really does not take much time and the benefits are well worth the effort. In addition to routine maintenance, you will have to replace parts that wear out, such as the deck and belt.

· Cleaning – Dirt and debris is a major cause of premature belt and deck wear. Clean between the belt and the deck once per week. Also clean the small exposed areas of the deck on each side of the belt. Dirt tends to accumulate in these areas. Wipe down the entire treadmill once per week. The outside surface of the belt can be cleaned with a damp sponge or cloth. Vacuum or wipe up the area around your treadmill at the same time. You should clean the motor area three or four times per year. Unplug the treadmill before removing the cover. Follow the instructions in your owner’s manual for removing the cover. Carefully vacuum the dust and debris from around the motor.

· Lubrication – Read and follow your owner’s manual for lubrication recommendations. Some treadmills do not require lubrication. In fact, unnecessary lubrication can cause damage. Many decks are made of materials that do not require lubrication or are pre-impregnated with wax. Lubricating these types of decks can actually increase the friction between the belt and deck, which can lead to motor damage. If your treadmill does require lubrication or waxing, follow the manufacturers guidelines.

· Belt Alignment – Treadmill belts should run directly down the center of the deck. If your belt is wandering to one side or the other, it needs alignment. There are adjustment bolts at the rear of the machine, on each side. Make small adjustment of ¼ turn at one time. Again, check your owner’s manual for specific instructions.

· Belt Tension – Belt tension is pre-adjusted at the factory, however, new belts will stretch and require readjustment. If the belt is too loose, it will slip and cause excessive wear to both the belt and the deck. If the belt is too tight, it will cause wear to the rollers and to the motor. The belt should be set just tight enough so that is does not slip. With the belt running slowly, stomp your foot forcefully down and slightly forward on the belt. If you feel the belt slip, tighten both bolts ¼ turn. Again, follow your manual for instructions specific to your make and model.

· Belt Wear – There are two components in your treadmill, which will require periodic replacement – the belt and the deck. Check the condition of your belt every three months. Feel the underside of the belt. If it feels rough and worn, it may be time for a new belt. Continuing to run on a worn out belt will increase the wear on the deck. The deck will eventually wear out also, but if you replace your belt when necessary, you will increase the life of your deck.

· Electrical Requirements – Most of the treadmills made today use a computer controlled electronic console. This console is sensitive to power surges, just as your desktop computer is. You can protect this connecting your machine to a properly grounded AC outlet. If possible, connect your treadmill to a dedicated circuit.

Posted by Dick Enrico at 04:47 PM | Keep Your Treadmill Treading | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

At its annual customer conference, Microsoft recognizes outstanding achievements reached by its customers with the help of their Microsoft Dynamics solutions and their partners. The 2006 Overall Excellence award recipient is Vision Fitness, whose partner is SVA Consulting.
Vision Fitness, a Wisconsin-based company, designs and distributes award-winning fitness products including treadmills, elliptical trainers, fitness bikes and strength equipment for the home and commercial markets. The company began in 1993 as a division of Trek ® Bicycle Company. In 1996, Vision Fitness was spun off by the Trek Fitness management team to better focus on the specialty fitness industry.

Vision Fitness began as a small player with only three stationary fitness bikes and has grown to offer more than 25 cardio and strength products, including award-winning upright and semi-recumbent fitness bikes, treadmills, elliptical trainers and its newest product offering—the first of a line of multi-gyms and strength training products.

Focused not only on superior products, but also exceptional customer service, Vision Fitness established a list of standards in an effort to offer the best customer service in the specialty fitness industry. Microsoft Dynamics solutions help Vision Fitness deliver on that goal because they fit with the systems they have in place and work like products familiar to their employees—helping staff be more productive, make better decisions, and pursue business goals with confidence.

SVA Consulting has been with Vision Fitness every step of the way. As a full-service consulting firm, SVA Consulting provides all the services necessary to leverage a technology investment: installation, implementation, integration, network configuration, customization, training and on-going support. For more than 10 years, SVA Consulting has partnered with Microsoft. As a result of this partnership and the company’s experience with more than 400 implementations, SVA Consulting has become a top partner in the Midwest devoted to Microsoft technologies.

Microsoft applauds not only the achievements that Vision Fitness has made with the help of its Microsoft Dynamics solution and SVA Consulting, but also the company’s commitment to fitness. In 2004, Vision Fitness began establishing partnerships with Unity Health Insurance and the Wisconsin Governor’s Office to help increase awareness of the importance of health and fitness and to help combat childhood obesity in Wisconsin. Donations were also made to PE4Life (physical education for life) to help increase awareness of the need for physical education on a national level.

In conjunction with the Wisconsin Governor’s Office, Vision Fitness promoted and provided equipment for state-wide Fitness Challenges—10-week programs designed to inspire individuals to become more physically active. Since the program’s inception in March of 2004, more than 25,000 citizens, working as individuals or in one of 670 groups, have participated. Thanks to programs such as this, Wisconsin made a seven-place jump (tied for best improvement in the nation) in 2005 from the 21 st to 14 th healthiest state

Posted by Dick Enrico at 04:08 PM | Vision Fitness Recognized by Microsoft for Business Excellence | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When it comes to elliptical cross trainers, the newest and fastest growing category of fitness equipment, all definitely are NOT created equal. Anyone can step onto several different machines and quickly realize that each has its own very distinct motion and feel-unlike other fitness equipment such as treadmills and stationary bikes.
An elliptical cross trainer is a unique combination of a stairclimber and a cross-country ski machine-requiring the feet to follow an egg-shaped, or elliptical, motion that typically goes forward or reverse. Some units also include arms that engage the upper body as well. The advantage of these total-body machines is that they require an upright, weight-bearing position in a natural, closed kinetic chain while training the all the body's major muscle groups-including the gluteals, hamstrings, quadriceps, calves, lats, chest, deltoids, biceps and triceps-which, taken together, results in maximum calorie burn and distinguishes ellipticals from virtually all other cardiovascular equipment.

Quality elliptical machines foster a smooth, natural, low-impact cardiovascular workout that challenges everyone from beginners to elite athletes. Studies have shown that compared to other exercises, total-body elliptical cross trainers require significant oxygen consumption and result in high caloric expenditure for efficient, effective workouts. Also, total-body machines that disperse the exercise throughout enable exercisers to work at higher intensities without actually perceiving greater exertion.

It is easy to see why these machines are tremendously popular, but before investing in an elliptical cross trainer, it is critical to evaluate its overall feel.

The importance of biomechanics
Biomechanics, which is the study of human movement, is an important consideration for any piece of fitness equipment, but even more so with the elliptical cross trainer due to the complexity and variance of its movement. For the optimum workout, the machine must fit the exerciser; individuals should never be required to adapt their posture, position or movement pattern to fit a piece of equipment. Elliptical cross trainers ideally should simulate how the body naturally moves for people of various shapes and sizes. The motion on an elliptical cross trainer should replicate movements like walking or running, which involve similar biomechanics. Engineers therefore must consider numerous factors to make the exercise biomechanically correct while eliminating unnatural alignment or excessive, repetitive stress or torque.

On most elliptical cross trainers, the biomechanical analysis is as follows: the body moves in a linear direction through flexion and extension at numerous joints in the sagittal plane, including the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, and ankle. Machines with arms may also include a minimal amount of radial and ulnar deviation in the frontal plane at the wrist joint. And in total-body units, the erector spinae may engage in a bit of rotation in the transverse plane throughout the range of motion.

Critical ergonomic factors
While biomechanics are integral in developing elliptical cross trainers, ergonomics is really where the rubber hits the road. Ergonomics is the science of adapting external conditions to suit individuals-or, in this case, using biomechanical analysis to build the best feeling elliptical cross trainers to satisfy exercisers and deliver results.

Octane Fitness-a group of dedicated exercisers with decades of experience in the fitness equipment industry-has developed its exclusive Body-Mapping Ergonomics™ to create the most comfortable and effective movement on an elliptical cross trainer. Body-Mapping Ergonomics™ consists of sophisticated motion analysis software, solid modeling, comprehensive testing, video analysis and human interface studies with input from biomechanists, medical professionals, personal trainers and exercisers. The end result is the patented QuadLink™ Drive, which confers valuable advantages unique to Octane's equipment.

The essential ergonomic factors for elliptical cross trainers all contribute to its motion or feel-and exercisers should evaluate the following when choosing equipment:

Stride length - Either extreme-long or short-can cause hyperextension in the hip joint in the forward motion as well as unnatural, forced hip flexion when going in reverse, and both can cause discomfort. Octane Fitness has studied anthropometric data and solicited feedback from exercisers of various fitness levels and different heights and limb lengths to develop an optimal stride of 19.5" that comfortably accommodates the majority of individuals in both forward and reverse motion.

Stride angle/height - This refers to the shape of the actual ellipse-whether it is more circular or oblong. With its patented QuadLink™ Drive, Octane Fitness has precisely perfected the stride angle so it doesn't feel too vertical like a stairclimber or cycle or too flat like a cross-country skier. The result is a natural, comfortable ride that optimally engages all major lower body muscles.

Stride width/pedal spacing - Research shows that the wider the space between the pedals, the greater the hips shift laterally during the movement, which can create lower back pain. In addition, a wide stance feels distinctly unnatural, since people walk and run with the feet and legs close together. Octane Fitness has the closest pedal spacing in the industry at 2 inches-which virtually eliminates erector spinae rotation and potential back stress.

Pedal acceleration - Anyone who has tried several brands of ellipticals immediately notices the difference in how quickly and smoothly the pedals move. Some are faster on the downstroke and drag on the upswing; others have a "kick" on the upswing that unnaturally propels the pedals and can throw exercisers off balance. Without steady pedal acceleration, the result is a herky-jerky, uncomfortable and potentially unsafe movement. Again, Octane's precision affords exercisers with fluid, stable motion and consistent muscle and joint recruitment, stroke after stroke.

Inertia - Inertia deals with the amount of effort it requires to get the pedals moving. With too much inertia, it is difficult to get the machine going, but once started, momentum kicks in and relieves exercisers of significant effort-essentially bringing them along for the ride. Utilizing computer software and exerciser feedback, Octane Fitness elliptical cross trainers have the optimum amount of inertia for steady, consistently demanding workouts.

Pedal articulation - In most elliptical machines, the ankle joint engages in dorsi flexion on the downstroke and plantar flexion on the upstroke. Octane studies show that excessive plantar flexion leads to transient paresthesia, a "numb toe" condition due to compression of nerves in the foot, and extreme dorsi flexion can limit knee and hip extension, which are essential for a complete range of motion. Video analysis and computer software enabled Octane Fitness to create pedals that support the ankles and feet naturally throughout the entire stride. Upper body pivot point and range of motion - Unlike treadmills, stationary cycles and stairclimbers, many elliptical cross trainers engage the upper body in movements that should be synchronized with leg motion. Here, research has intuitively shown that arm handles should simulate natural shoulder and arm flexion and extension as seen in walking or running, and that excessive radial or ulnar deviation may cause wrist discomfort. Unlike many ellipticals, Octane Fitness' patented design facilitates a unique, low pivot point for arm movement to create a more comfortable axis of rotation, minimize radial and ulnar deviation and provide an appropriate range of motion throughout the arm swing. The shape of and multi-positioning options on Octane's arm handles also encourage proper posture while stimulating the core musculature (abdominals and back) for stability.

Also, Octane provides stationary bullhorn handlebars for safety when mounting or dismounting, for use during cooldowns or for exercisers who want to focus temporarily only on lower body exercise.

Exceptional exercise experience
Precise biomechanical analysis and exacting ergonomics are critical to elliptical exercise effectiveness, motivation and adherence. The passionate exercisers at Octane Fitness focus all their resources exclusively on ellipticals to deliver the most biomechanically correct, ergonomically comfortable and enjoyable exercise experiences that foster optimal results.

Posted by Dick Enrico at 02:15 PM | Body-Mapping Ergonomics | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

What is cross training?
With more fitness tools available than ever before, today it is easy to cross train, or incorporate variety in workouts such as jogging on Mondays and Wednesdays and lifting weights and swimming on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Or it can be spending 15 minutes each on a stationary cycle, elliptical cross trainer and treadmill for a 45-minute session.
Varying workouts ultimately produces the best outcomes-whether that means losing weight, running a race or playing a better golf game.

Breaking habits
Why not just do same exercise routine day in and out? Because performing the exact exercise routine over time actually can hinder progress.

According to the specific adaptations to imposed demands (S.A.I.D.) principle, the body adapts over time to the demands imposed on it. By repeating the same exercises, the neuromuscular system becomes stronger and better coordinated-so that eventually the body is more energy-efficient at that activity. As efficiency increases, caloric expenditure can drop by as much as 25 percent-which can result in less effective workouts and plateaus.

Therefore, cross training is instrumental to continually challenge the body and deliver results.

Benefits of cross training
In addition to sustaining physiological progress, cross training leads to a myriad of other benefits:
Better overall fitness level
No single activity can yield all the potential benefits of exercise such as better cardiovascular health, stronger muscles and bones, enhanced flexibility and lower body fat.
Reduced risk of injury
Excessive repetition in one activity can lead to overuse injuries. Distributing the exercise stress throughout the body results in a stronger, more balanced system.
Improved athletic performance
Peak performance in virtually all physical activities involves more than just one physical attribute. So a sprinter still benefits from weight training to build overall strength.
Enhanced motivation and reduced boredom
Trying new activities can prevent burnout and keep exercisers committed over the long haul.
Cross training within one machine
Introduced in 1995, the elliptical cross trainer is currently the fastest-growing piece of fitness equipment, with its usage increasing five-fold in the last eight years. A cardiovascular machine breakthrough, ellipticals combine the motion of a cross-country machine and a stairclimber-with the feet traveling in an egg-shaped, or elliptical, motion-delivering a weight-bearing, easy-on-the-joints, simple to use, effective workout unlike any other fitness product.

Also, today's units are unique because they easily facilitate cross training on the same machine by allowing for forward and backward motion and including arms for synchronized, total-body movement. Studies have shown that total-body elliptical cross trainers engage numerous muscles, including the gluteals, hamstrings, quadriceps, calves, pectorals, lats, deltoids, biceps and triceps in a natural, closed kinetic chain-unlike any other modalities such as treadmills, stationary cycles or stairclimbers. Plus, core musculature strength and stability are constantly taxed on a total-body machine, as exercisers must recruit the abdominals and lower back to maintain balance.

Another benefit is that total-body ellipticals may not feel as intense as other machines due to the movement's low impact nature and dispersion of effort throughout the entire body. Furthermore, simulating realistic motions such as walking or running on a total-body elliptical cross trainer can lead to "transferable" gains that help improve performance of everyday activities. Ellipticals also may enhance balance, coordination and fluidity of motion-all of which play a critical role in activities of daily living.

The bottom line is a more intense workout with greater oxygen and muscular demands and caloric expenditure-all at a lower overall perceived exertion level and with practical application.

Revolutionizing elliptical workouts
Octane Fitness has revolutionized cross training with its innovative, exclusive X-Mode+™ and GluteKicker™ programs on its total-body elliptical cross trainers. No other machine on the market benefits exercisers with these intense cross training workouts that fuel the ultimate regimen that delivers results.

The X-Mode+™, easily activated during any workout with the touch of a button, delivers instructions in a randomly generated sequence for maximum physical and mental stimulation. One-minute intervals of X-Mode+™ commands are followed by two minutes of standard elliptical motion striding forward and using the upper body. This type of interval training not only boosts caloric expenditure but also annihilates monotony and makes workouts virtually fly by.

The X-Mode+™ is like a virtual personal trainer-prompting a variety of movements that keep the body working effectively at all times:

Push/Arms
emphasizes the pectorals and triceps and focuses exerciser on actively working arms
Pull/Arms
biceps and lats are worked as exerciser concentrates on pulling motion
Reverse
reminds exercisers to pedal backwards to shift muscular emphasis more heavily from gluteals and hamstrings to quadriceps and calves
Squat
bending knees slightly increases load on glutes and quadriceps
Lower Body Only
allows for upper body recovery and challenges exerciser to sustain pace with legs only
Fast
pushes exercisers to speed up to 50-60 rpm to raise intensity
Slow
recovery period of 30-40 rpm allows heart rate and respiratory rate to come down slightly, allowing for slower, deeper oxygen intake and elimination of carbon dioxide
Lean Back
by grabbing stationary handlebars and leaning back slightly, exerciser shifts muscle focus to quadriceps
Building on the X-Mode+™ is the GluteKicker™, an aggressive program that focuses exclusively and intensely on the gluteals, hips, quadriceps and hamstrings. In the GluteKicker™, four commands appear randomly-reverse, squat, fast and lean back-for one minute. After a one-minute recovery, the lower-body emphasis begins again-making this an optimal workout to blast the hips, butt and thighs.

Fueling workouts
Clearly, cross training is the most effective way to train. Taking advantage of an elliptical cross trainer provides unique options all within one workout on one machine-which just is not possible on any other cardiovascular piece. With the X-Mode+™ and GluteKicker™, Octane Fitness machines incorporate beneficial variety that keeps exercisers fueled and fit, workout after workout

Posted by Dick Enrico at 04:15 PM | Elliptical Cross Training | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When it comes to elliptical machines, all definitely have a distinct motion and feel-which both are critical factors that influence whether you look forward to or dread and eventually give up on your elliptical machines exercises.
Because of our commitment to deliver the best, most effective elliptical machines, Octane Fitness dedicates significant resources to biomechanics and ergonomic research. Rather than just replicate existing elliptical machines, we strive to surpass others by carefully examining how the body moves naturally and thoughtfully considering how we can best accommodate all types of exercisers.

We invest in numerous tools, such as sophisticated motion analysis software, solid elliptical machines modeling, comprehensive testing, video analysis and human interface studies with input from biomechanists, engineers, medical professionals, personal trainers and exercisers. And we've teamed up with the Department of Human Performance at Minnesota State University to conduct scientific studies of how our elliptical machines affect the body and how particular innovations could even further enhance elliptical machines.

Ultimately, this dedication to research is what separates us from the rest-and helps you get the results you're after.

Posted by Dick Enrico at 04:10 PM | Elliptical Machines Research | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

ANDOVER, Minn. – The fastest-growing fitness equipment category – the elliptical cross trainer – now has two new options for home exercisers. Octane Fitness, a new player with significant experience in the fitness equipment industry, introduced the Q35 and the Q35e, designed with specific breakthroughs that provide a revolutionary experience on a total-body elliptical cross trainer.

Bringing decades of experience to product development and distribution, Octane Fitness is the only company in the fitness equipment industry to be committed exclusively to the elliptical cross trainer category.

“In our quest to develop the best-feeling cross trainer, we created health club-quality machines that mimic natural motion, are undeniably smooth and feature electronics that make workouts more engaging and effective—all for greater results,” said Tim Porth, vice president of research and development and marketing for Octane Fitness. Our total focus on ellipticals allows us to sweat the details—they are all we think about 24/7.”

Perfecting the Feel

When it comes to fitness equipment – and particularly with elliptical cross trainers – the feel of the machine's movement is critical. Based on research, extensive computer simulation and prototype testing, Octane Fitness’ Body-Mapping Ergonomics provide a low step-up height and the closest spacing between the pedals in the industry at two inches. This best mimics natural walking and running and virtually eliminates potential hip shifting and lower back pain caused by wider stances.

Body-Mapping Ergonomics ultimately creates a comfortable, biomechanically correct synchronized motion for the arms and legs. Exercisers also benefit from Octane Fitness’ patented QuadLink drive, which results in a safer, smoother feel as well as a smaller footprint than many other home machines.

The moving multi-position handlebars encourage correct posture and feature a low pivot point for natural upper body movement for exercisers of all heights and arm and leg lengths. In addition, total-body exercise engages more muscle groups for efficient workouts with greater caloric expenditure. Using the entire body disperses the workload more completely as well, which leads to a lower perceived exertion than at similar intensities on other exercises such as jogging or cycling.

Electronics Enhance Effectiveness

Getting started is easy with DedicatedLogic programming; just get on and go or simply press the Auto Quick Start. The Q35e also includes My Quick Start, two customizable programs that automatically record personal data and immediately place users in their favorite workouts. Custom-designed programs are Manual, Random, Interval, Hill and Run-Sim, which simulates outdoor running with terrain changes.

To encourage cross training, the exclusive X-Mode prompts exercisers to perform a variety of movements such as pushing arms, pulling arms, squatting, going backwards, etc. On the Q35e, the X-Mode+ presents additional cross training activities including the GluteKicker that targets the gluteal and other lower body muscles by alternating one minute of work with one minute of recovery.

Because research shows that interval training can deliver maximum results, HeartLogic Intelligence on the Octane Fitness Q35e features a wireless heart rate monitor and five heart rate interval training programs: Fat Burn, Cardio, Heart Rate Interval, Heart Rate Hill and Heart Rate Speed Interval. The Now-Zone is the simplest way to do heart rate training; it lets exercisers instantly lock into a current heart rate in any program to maintain it throughout the workout.

Posted by Dick Enrico at 05:23 PM | New Fitness Equipment Company Presents Home Elliptical Cross Trainers | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Q45e elliptical from Octane Fitness, a leading manufacturer of multiple award-winning, premium elliptical cross trainers, earned the prestigious “Best of Fitness 2006” award from Health magazine in the category of elliptical trainers over $1,500.

“To be chosen by Health as the winner in this highly competitive category is a tremendous honor,” said Dennis Lee, president of Octane Fitness, “and it reignites our passion and mission to deliver the most ergonomically advanced and technologically advanced cross trainers that offer unbeatable workouts. “

Q45e lauded for special features
In the January/February issue of the magazine, Health describes the Q45e as “Not only does this elliptical allow you to stride naturally but the strategically placed handlebars help you get the most out of your upper body, and programs like GluteKicker keep things interesting.”

The Q45e is the only elliptical on the market today to offer SmartStride, which analyzes an exerciser’s pace and direction and automatically adjusts the stride length accordingly. Furthermore, the proprietary MultiGrip handlebars are exclusive to Octane and offer contoured grips and various biomechanically correct positions for optimum customization and comfort.

Selecting the fitness equipment honors for the second consecutive year was Lynn Allen, president of Heartland Fitness in Ames, Iowa, and an advisor to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association.

The Health “Best of Fitness” awards debuted in 2005 across six core categories, including fitness equipment, gear, footwear, apparel, videos/DVDS and nutritional products. Health enlists an independent panel of experts in each category to determine the best entrants. The magazine indicated that its 7.3 million readers are grateful for the clear recommendations in a crowded marketplace.

Octane Fitness Background
Together with more than 28 years of experience in the fitness industry, Dennis Lee and Tim Porth founded Octane Fitness in 2001. Fueled by a relentless passion to offer the best elliptical machines, the company is committed exclusively to delivering breakthrough, performance cross training—unlike any other fitness equipment manufacturer today. Elliptical cross trainers are the sole focus of Octane Fitness’ extensive research, development, testing and manufacturing—all ultimately to benefit exercisers with superior quality products; innovative, effective workouts and unparalleled personalized service.

Posted by Dick Enrico at 04:56 PM | Health Magazine Awards Octane Fitness Best of Fitness 2006 | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Vision Fitness elliptical trainer comes in five models. Ranging from the low end to the higher end machine, the models are the Vision FitnessX6000 Folding, the Vision Fitness X6100 Folding, the Vision Fitness X6200 Folding, the Vision Fitness X6200HRT Folding, and the Vision Fitness X6600HRT Commercial Grade.

The lower end of the Vision Fitness ellipticals are more compact than the higher end and fold for storage. The handlebars move along with the pedals so that you can get an upper body workout. However this can be difficult and uncomfortable if you are a short person. You should try those machines in the store to see if they are a good fit for you.

All of the Vision Fitness ellipticals are made with the flywheel in the front, which is opposite from the ellipticals at the gym. This makes the motion somewhat different so it may take some getting used to. The brakes are mechanical on the lower end machines and tend to break more often, and need more attention. The higher end Vision Fitness ellipticals use an electro magnetic braking system which works better and is more reliable.

The front flywheel Vision Fitness ellipticals tend to wear out faster and get noisy after a while.

The Vision Fitness elliptical trainers come with a wide range of warranties depending on which one you buy. If you do decide on a Vision Fitness elliptical it is advisable to purchase one of their higher end machines.

Posted by Dick Enrico at 03:49 PM | Riding The Vision Fitness Elliptical Trainer | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Life Fitness company makes six different models. They are the Life Fitness Elliptical X3, the Life Fitness Elliptical X3i, the Life Fitness Elliptical X5, the Life Fitness Elliptical X5i, the Life Fitness Elliptical x9i, and the Life Fitness Elliptical Sports Cardio SX30. These machines are at the higher end of ellipticals and the Life Fitness ellipticals are of the highest quality. The down side of the Life Fitness ellipticals is the warranties could be better for the price you are paying. The last model mentioned the Life Fitness Sport Model gives you a lifetime warranty on the frame, two years on the parts, and one year on the labor. All the other models mentioned above have the same warranty, lifetime on the frame, two years on the parts, and one year on the labor.

The Life Fitness ellipticals X3, and X3i, are at the lower end of the six models. They are built very durable and are under three thousand dollars. The X3i has four more programs than the X3 and is slightly better. The Life Fitness X5, and the Life Fitness X5i, have something called the Select Stride, which means that you can select from four different settings, sprint, run, jog, and walk. These ellipticals may last a lifetime, they are built that well. They are amoung the heaviest ellipticals made, so after they are put together, don't plan on moving them often. The Life Fitness X9i has eighteen programs and seven personal programs. The quality is said to be that of a commercial gym machine. This is one of the absolute best elliptical that money can buy. These ellipticals are quiet and very stable units.

All things considered it's hard to top the quality and value of Life Fitness Ellipticals.

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Julia Havey, the author of Awaken the Diet Within and the popular LifeChanger weight loss program, has endorsed the award-winning Octane Fitness elliptical cross trainers as ideal equipment for calorie-blasting, fat burning, effective and efficient workouts.
Havey, who owns Octane's premium Q45e model (just named a Consumer Guide Best Buy), created the LifeChanger Program that has inspired hundreds to lose weight and get fit. And Havey knows just how tough this can be for Americans, as she herself struggled after having two children with overeating and weight gain, wearing a size 26 and unsuccessfully dieting for 10 years.

"I love this machine, and have recently lost 14 pounds in two months by using it at least 30 minutes a day," said Havey, who lost 130 of her former 290 pounds in just more than a year. "The programs keep me challenged and getting the results I'm after, plus the unique SmartStride makes the elliptical fit my body perfectly."

Her program is based on simple, vice-busting steps with a foundation of building self-esteem and self-improvement through self-motivation.

"I never did anything drastic, but just focused on eating healthy, exercising and changing one habit at a time," Havey said. "I created the LifeChanger program so I can teach everyone to benefit from my tried and true plan.

"My program is all about slow, baby steps that empower people so that they are more likely to continue to succeed," said Havey. "And the Octane ellipticals accommodate beginning exercisers and take them along all the way to elite fitness levels over time. That's why I recommend Octane for incredible, total-body workouts like no other."

In fact, Havey was so successful at remaking herself that she won the Mrs. Missouri pageant and came in 14th in the Mrs. USA pageant with a "war on obesity" platform. Havey also serves as the Master Motivator for the audience of 14 million at eDiets.com, has appeared on QVC and has written a new book, The Vice-Busting Diet, which will be published in January 2006.

All About Ergonomics and Electronics

Octane's award-winning ellipticals are based on the exclusive, scientifically designed Body-Mapping Ergonomics and patented QuadLink drive that deliver the most comfortable and biomechanically effective exercise-with features like a low step-up height, the closest pedal spacing in the industry at two inches and articulating pedals that support the feet throughout each stride.

Plus, exclusive to Octane Fitness is the patent-pending SmartStride, designed after extensive research and motion analysis to best replicate movements like walking, jogging, running and moving backwards. SmartStride monitors an exerciser's pace and direction and automatically adjusts the stride length accordingly to custom fit different activities.

Upper-body movement is perfected with Octane's proprietary, distinctive MultiGrip handlebars that offer contoured grips and various biomechanically correct positions that accommodate exercisers of all sizes, recruit numerous upper-body muscles to improve strength and significantly enhance total-body motion.

Furthermore, HeartLogic Intelligence provides smart, efficient, interactive workouts, and DedicatedLogic programming enables changes to the workout, time or resistance "on the fly."

"Positive feedback like Julia's fuels our passionate quest to producing elliptical trainers that make exercise more effective and enjoyable," said Tim Porth, executive vice president of product development and marketing for Octane Fitness.

Octane Fitness Background

Together with more than 28 years of experience in the fitness industry, Dennis Lee and Tim Porth founded Octane Fitness in 2001. Fueled by a relentless passion to offer the best elliptical machines, the company is committed exclusively to delivering breakthrough, performance cross training- unlike any other fitness equipment manufacturer today. Elliptical cross trainers are the sole focus of Octane Fitness' extensive research, development, testing and manufacturing-all ultimately to benefit exercisers with superior quality products; innovative, effective workouts and unparalleled personalized service.

Posted by Dick Enrico at 04:39 PM | Octane Fitness Elliptical Cross Trainers Ideal for Weight Loss, Says Expert Julia Havey | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

T5-0, T5-5 and T7-0 Sleek, Contemporary Forms Complement Home Decor T7-0

Life Fitness, the leading manufacturer of commercial cardiovascular and strength-training equipment, today introduced a new line of home treadmills that deliver health club quality, but are uniquely designed for the home with a variety of home- friendly features and design elements to complement any home's decor. The new T5-0 (pronounced Tee Five Oh), T5-5 and T7-0 treadmills feature a contemporary design, super-quiet operation, a low step-up height, easy-access controls and warm amber console lighting. The T7-0 even lets users easily select their own cushioning levels to meet their preferences. "The better the fitness equipment suits a user's lifestyle, the more likely a user will achieve his or her fitness goals," said Dan Wille, vice president, Consumer Retail Business, Life Fitness. "That's the guiding principle behind Environment Specific Design, a new approach that we're using to develop all of our Life Fitness products. The T5-0, T5-5 and T7-0 treadmills were designed specifically for the home, incorporating the best of contemporary industrial design with features that make it easy and convenient to work out in the comfort of your own home." The new treadmills feature the patented FlexDeck shock absorption system found on all Life Fitness treadmills, which reduces impact to joints by nearly 30 percent compared with non-cushioned treadmills. The T7-0 treadmill takes shock absorption to the next level with FlexDeck Select, which allows an exerciser to easily adjust the cushioning of the deck to any of three different settings to mimic different outdoor surface conditions, such as grass, a running track or concrete, or to accommodate different cushioning preferences among multiple users in a household. Home-friendly features and design elements Uniquely designed for the home, the new treadmills boast a sleek, contemporary design with no exposed bolts or screws. "We designed them with an aesthetically pleasing appearance so people would be proud to display them in their homes," Wille said. All three models are powered by an extremely quiet 3.0 HP MagnaDrive motor system that lets users easily watch TV or listen to music at normal volume levels while working out and won't disturb others during early-morning workouts. Exercisers also can shut off all the treadmill's lights and, for even quieter operation, turn off all beep tones. The most-used buttons are within easy reach on their own optimally angled control pad, while the T5-5 and T7-0 models include deluxe consoles with touch-sensitive controls and interactive lighting. Removable, dishwasher-safe cup holders make for easy cleaning, and for families with children, the electronic child-safety lockout helps keep youngsters from using the treadmills unsupervised. The treadmills also offer up to 18 different pre-programmed workouts, along with custom programs that can be created for different users. These programs can store personal settings, favorite programs, preferred speeds, preferred incline positions and custom programs for up to four users. Exercisers also can create customized programs and track and record their progress over time. The treadmills' five HeartSync heart-rate controlled programs will automatically measure the exerciser's heart rate and adjust the incline in 0.1 percent increments to keep users in their target heart rate zones. In addition, a 10,000 steps program on the T5-5 and T7-0 treadmills can help users achieve a 10,000-steps-per-day goal, a recommended way to improve overall health and help increase fitness levels by focusing on counting steps instead of calories or miles.

Shop for New Life Fitness Treadmills

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By Michael Walker: You’ve decided you want to exercise at home. There are hundreds of pieces of home cardio equipment available. The most popular are treadmills and exercise bikes. In deciding between the two, you should compare long-term sustainability, the effectiveness of the workouts, and safety.

Shop For: Treadmills | Exercise Bikes

Overcoming Boredom

The biggest obstacle to a home exercise routine is sticking with it. You don’t have to drive to a gym, so your home fitness equipment is more convenient. The problem is that other distractions are just as convenient at home. The key is to make your routine fun. You want to look forward to your daily workout. You have to be realistic. Playing with the heart rate monitor or watching the calorie counter go up will only be fun the first couple of times you exercise.

• Treadmill vs. Boredom

On a treadmill, you walk. Walking isn’t that fun. You can walk at different speeds, but that isn’t really much more fun. If you get a treadmill that offers an incline, that keeps it a bit more interesting. Walking uphill isn’t exactly fun, but it’s different. It presents a challenge.

You can’t really read on a treadmill because you are bouncing up and down. You can’t keep your eyes on the same sentence, and you usually end up with a headache. Basically, the only thing fun to do on a treadmill is watch television or movies. If you are really into TV or movies and are able to put your treadmill in front of a television, you can probably keep your treadmill workout from becoming too boring. Problems consist of commercials, the noise coming from the machine, and again, the bouncing.

• Exercise Bikes vs. Boredom

Exercise bikes are unique in that many of them come programmed with various biking routines. You simulate different courses that require you to sprint, pedal uphill, and perform at different levels within one workout without having to keep pressing buttons and changing everything. You can even select random programs so you don’t know what’s coming, which really keeps you on your toes. Some exercise bikes can even be plugged into televisions and video games to let you interactively pedal through visual courses.

On upright exercise bikes, you run into some of the same problems as treadmills as far as reading is concerned. Recumbent bikes, however, allow your hands to be free to hold a book or magazine, video game controller, or phone. Multi-tasking during an exercise bike workout keeps it from becoming boring and allows your workout to more easily fit into a busy schedule.

Defeating boredom to successfully keep up a long-term exercise routine is much easier with an exercise bike than a treadmill.

The Calorie Factor

In a study conducted by Nordic Track, young, healthy people used various exercise machines and did cardio workouts. Although they felt they used the same intensity on all machines, they burned the most calories on treadmills and ski machines.

On average, most people burn about 750 calories per hour on a treadmill. The same people are likely to burn about 550 calories per hour on an exercise bike. So it’s a no-brainer, right? You should get a treadmill because they burn more calories.

Well, not exactly. You can’t get so caught up in which machine burns the most calories. You have to take a lot of other factors into consideration. How likely are you to sustain a treadmill routine as opposed to an exercise bike routine?

Because exercise bikes are usually more fun than treadmills, you are much more likely to stick with it long-term. This means that even though you can burn more calories on a treadmill, you are also more likely to stop using it altogether.

You might also find it difficult to use it long enough per workout session to get the full benefits. Most people find it easier to workout for 20 minutes on an exercise bike than 20 minutes on a treadmill. You have to think about that. If you are likely to only do 10 minutes on a treadmill but can easily do 20 minutes on an exercise bike, you will burn more calories per session on an exercise bike.

So just going strictly by the numbers, treadmills burn more calories. If you easily get bored or have tried and failed to stick with exercise routines in the past, you might want to consider burning less calories per hour in favor of a sustainable long-term exercise bike regimen.

Your Safety

The biggest difference between exercise bikes and treadmills is overall safety to your body.

The first case of safety is the most basic. You can fall off of a treadmill. It’s very difficult, however, to fall off of an exercise bike. In fact, you would probably have to try to fall when riding an exercise bike. While you might be thinking you’d have to be pretty clumsy to fall while walking, it happens more than you’d think. People get involved with watching television or the beat of music. One wrong step and you can seriously injure yourself. It’s also possible to spill water or sweat on the treadmill track, causing a safety hazard you might not notice until after you’ve slipped.

Another safety hazard is injury from the activity itself. A treadmill puts quite a bit of stress on your joints, especially your knees and ankles. Even if you invest in a treadmill with some degree of shock absorption, when you eventually get to a jogging or running point, you can put severe orthopedic stress on your body, even up to three times your body weight. People with existing conditions such as arthritis will find a treadmill painful at times due to this stress. Otherwise healthy individuals can sustain injury and possible long-term damage over time.

Exercise bikes put much less stress on your joints. A properly positioned exercise bike supports your weight and still allows you to receive the benefits of a higher impact cardio workout. Upright bikes can sometimes stress your back in the way you have to bend to reach the handlebars. Recumbent exercise bikes, however, can actually improve existing back pain by forcing proper posture and giving support as you exercise. On any exercise bike properly used, your knees and ankles are not stressed as they are on a treadmill.

The less you stress joints, the less likely you are to sustain an injury during your workout. You are also less likely to be sore afterwards. Most importantly, a non-workout injury doesn’t always have to halt your exercise routine on an exercise bike. If you hurt your back or neck, you will find the support of a recumbent exercise bike will keep you from having to stop your exercise regimen altogether. Let’s face it – if you have to stop, you are less likely to start again.

An Exercise Bike is Better for Your Health than a Treadmill

As you can see, both pieces of home fitness equipment have advantages. While the treadmill continues to be the most popular piece of home gym equipment, most people are more likely to faithfully use an exercise bike. This means you’re more likely to have to dust a treadmill until it gets the garage sale sticker.

Shop For: Treadmills | Exercise Bikes

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When Hoist Fitness Equipment started to flex its muscles in 1977, they also raised the bar for other manufacturers. Today this dynamic San Diego company still stands out as one of the front runners in the industry.

Not only do they offer innovative lines for gyms, but the Hoist fitness equipment range for home use, has become the number one choice of many fitness fanatics. Add to this their wheelchair-friendly line, and the KL fitness circuit for kids, and you have to conclude that Hoist is a gym equipment giant. Their bench-mark is precision building, and advanced engineering.

The wheelchair-accessible H-480 Single Stack Access Trainer is testament to the creativity and design excellence behind Hoist fitness equipment. Any upper body exercise can be done with safety and confidence. The manual included is informative and detailed.

As with other Hoist fitness equipment, all the exercises are done at the front of this space-efficient machine, enabling wall mounting. The Access offers a total body workout, yet the size of the footprint makes it one of the smallest gyms available. The Access trainer converts to able-bodied mode with one pull pin adjustment.

The Access trainer has been created by Hoist fitness equipment, as the ultimate solution to making a strength-building gym experience available to a wider spectrum of people.

There is a growing awareness of the importance of acquiring healthy habits from an early age. Childhood obesity due to inactivity, can no longer be ignored. The manufacturers of Hoist fitness equipment shared this concern, and developed the impressive KL Children's Fitness product line.

Through careful innovative design, the range imitates the natural patterns of play and movement. The KL line capitalizes on children's natural affinity for running, jumping, and jungle gym activities. Unique biomechanical motions create terrific fun, while subtly targeting muscle groups.

The nine piece Hoist fitness equipment KL circuit include an abdominal bench, hip extension press, leg press, shoulder press, squat press, seated dip, seated row, pull up, and chest press.

Discovering the V5 Multi Gym, will keep you at home, exercising! This single-stack home gym is one of the best and most varied available. This design by Hoist fitness equipment, gives you a workout that includes hard-to-reach muscle groups, often neglected with other systems.

The leg curl station can also be adjusted for leg extension exercises. The 4-D articulating press arm allows for a variety of movements. You also have access to variations such as a chest press, lat pulldown, leg press, and a chest-high cable for core strengthening exercises.

Hoist fitness equipment is known for its versatility. In this instance, you have various options, such as adding a VLP Leg Press station.

The H-4600-HS Multi Stack Gym is another versatile, commercial quality line in the Hoist Fitness Equipment range, suitable for homes and smaller outfits. The trademarked Silent Steel weight stacks, ensure smooth and quiet operation.

A variety of optional extras are available, promising even greater comfort and effectiveness. An example is the bicep curl station, with changeable handgrip positions for isolating different muscle groups. An optional weight stack enclosure, adds an element of safety.

The Hoist fitness equipment Freeweights range offers a choice of dumbbells, benches, racks, and cages.

The dumbbell line includes the Quick Change Dumbbell System, with a SGMA award behind its name. In line with the Hoist fitness equipment tradition, this is an extremely cost-effective and space-saving piece. Among the freeweight options, you have access to a Leg Extension / Leg Curl machine, or the Abdominal / Back Extension unit.

A variety of racks are available, including the HF-477 Short Vertical Dumbbell Stand, which holds 5 pairs of dumbbells. No assembly is needed. The charcoal powdercoat finish is similar to the multi stack and multi gym lines of Hoist fitness equipment.

Benches include the HF-167 Folding Flat / Incline Bench, also a hugely popular space-saving design. Another option is the HF-663 45 Degree Back Hyperextension bench. A large foot plate, and 4 adjustable positions are some of its features. The thigh brace can be adjusted to make provision for taller users.

New products include the lightweight Adjustable Ab / Back Hyper Bench. This dual-purpose, robust item has self-aligning roller pads, and is comfortable to use, irrespective of your fitness level or height. It folds flat for easy storage. In the same category of Hoist fitness equipment, you will find the Flat / Incline / Decline Bench with seven adjustments, convenient wheels, and an adjustable seat.

The background of the pioneering Hoist fitness equipment team, includes experience in running a fitness center. This explains why they have such an in depth understanding of the industry, and customer preferences. With such knowledgeable support behind you, any fitness goal should be within easy reach. Article Care of Rika Susan of http://www.Article-Alert.com researches, writes, and publishes full-time on the Web. Copyright of this article: 2006 Rika Susan. This article may be reprinted if the resource box and hyperlinks are left intact. Hoist carried exclusively at 2nd Wind Exercise Equipment

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2nd Wind today announced plans for an online store via www.2ndwindexercise.com . The fitness market is evolving and so does 2nd Wind.

In a recent analysis of online spending in various categories, fitness-related items came up as the third-fastest growth area. The survey, contacted by consumer behavior specialists comScore Networks, found that sales in the Sports & Fitness category reached $72.6 million for the first three weeks of January alone. That figure was up 41 percent over the same period in January 2005.

For comparison, the fastest-growing area was Event Tickets (up 50 percent). The second-fastest growth category was Consumer Electronics, which grew 43 percent—just 2 percentage points more than fitness.

The analysis excluded travel-related purchases, large auctions and corporate purchases.

2nd Wind plans to launch the site at www.2ndwindexercise.com within the next few months.

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Every few weeks, Kyle Snay has someone snap a picture of him. "Taking pictures is one of the best things you can do to measure progress and receive feedback," he says. "Scales are unreliable, especially once you start weight training." Muscle weighs more than fat, you know the deal.

And he's come a long way since he first scrutinized his "before picture," one year ago while competing in the first Men's Health Abs Diet Challenge. While Snay didn't win the contest, he landed in the top ten. We've kept our eye on him ever since. He became a convert of the Abs Diet and didn't stop after his six weeks were up. He made the Abs Diet his lifestyle and has continued to improve.

When Snay began his first challenge in September 2004, he weighed 227 pounds. In six weeks, he dropped 22 pounds. Even after the challenge, he continued to lose weight until he was down to 193. But Snay still wasn't satisfied by the scale's dip. He says he lost some muscle along with the fat. Since then, he's spent the last few months packing on more muscle in our Leaner by Labor Day program -- now called Thinner Through Thanksgiving. (You can participate too!)

Now he weighs in at 202--the same as when he finished the challenge last year--but his overall physique has changed. The pictures speak for themselves.

Snay has made the Abs Diet his way of life. He offers insight and advice as a normal guy who lives the program. One forum member valued his advice so much, he sent him cash with a note that said, "You give better advice than my gym--and I pay them for it." Snay sent the money back, but the gesture showed him that his advice is getting through to some people. It's certainly getting through to us.

The Snay Way

Weekly Workout: Four-to-five sessions of lifting and two sessions of high intensity interval training (HIIT- a 25-minute cardio workout in which you alternate bouts of speed with lower-intensity levels). One day off.

Mon:

Chest, Shoulders, Biceps

Tues:

Back, Triceps, Abs

Wed: HIIT in the AM, legs/abs in the afternoon

Thurs: Chest, Shoulders, Biceps

Fri: Back, Triceps, Abs

Sat: HIIT

Sun: Rest

For his lifting days, Snay completes mini-circuits for each muscle group (chest, shoulders, biceps) by alternating three different exercises that work a specific area until he's completed three sets of each exercise. Then he'll move onto the next muscle group and do the same--for a total of 10 exercises.

Nutrition: Snay continues to eat 6 meals a day, including foods from the Power 12 in every meal. He's a big fan of protein smoothies, and often adds spices (cinnamon, cocoa, nutmeg) or extracts (vanilla, almond) to give the flavor a kick without the calories. He drinks about two gallons of water each day.

Supplements: Creatine, glutamine, whey protein, flax oil and seed, fish oil capsules, green tea extract, and multivitamins

How Kyle Goes the Extra Mile

1. Make lunch time, crunch time. Snay plays desk jockey all day at his job, so when the noon lunch bell tolls, he abandons his desk and skips the lunchroom to make better use of his hour break. It takes him five minutes to eat, so Snay gets active by playing racquetball, tennis, or hitting the campus gym for an HIIT session. "You'll have time to work out, if you make it a priority," Snay says.

2. Change it up, every time. Snay tries to make an improvement in every workout, either by adding more weight to the barbell or squeezing out one more rep. He also includes a different exercise in his workout each time.

3. Bring it home. As a family guy -- married with two young children (a 1-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son) -- Snay doesn't waste any time working out that could be spent with the kids. So he wakes at 4:30 a.m. to lift weights, while everyone's still sleeping. That's where his home gym comes in, allowing him to work out when he wants to. Snay purchased the Hoist V2 as his home gym, but says free weights can do the job just as well.

4. Put your workout where you can see it. Every time Snay gets the next issue of Men's Health, he rips out the poster workout and 15-Minute Workout and posts them to his walls. He now has hundreds of workouts on his walls, so there's no excuse for failing to try something new.

Picture Perfect

After all this, Snay is happy with the way he looks. People treat him differently and look at him differently. "I'm a completely different person. Not just in terms of lifestyle, but I have an incredible amount of self-confidence," Snay says. When he first started working out, he couldn't run three blocks, but now he can run four miles without breathing heavy. "It's incredible what I can do now that I'm in shape."

Posted by Dick Enrico at 08:48 PM | The Snay Way from 2nd Wind Exercise Equipment | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Life Fitness, the leading manufacturer of a full line of commercial cardiovascular and strength-training equipment, has received glowing reviews from leading magazines and Web sites for several models in its new line of home treadmills, which deliver a variety of features to meet the needs of a wide range of users. SmartMoney magazine put its money on the Life Fitness T3-0 (MSRP: $2,199) in its January 2006 issue. The magazine rated treadmills in four categories, and the Life Fitness T3-0 ran away with top honors. American marathoner and Olympic silver medalist Meb Keflezighi put several treadmills through their paces for SmartMoney, and in the end, the T3-0 easily out-distanced the competition receiving four stars (out of four) for overall performance, power, design and features. In fact, the T3-0 was lauded in the article as "easy to use and packed with features," and that's right on target. The T3-0 features the FlexDeck shock absorption system, wireless heart rate monitoring and 12 workout programs, four My Workouts user presets and five HeartSync heart rate controlled programs. The entire SmartMoney article can be seen at http://www.smartmoney.com/mag/index.cfm?story=january2006-treadmill

But the words of praise for Life Fitness treadmills didn't stop there. In its February 2006 issue, Runner's World magazine said that the Life Fitness T7-0 was "perfect for runners who crave variety in their workouts." With FlexDeck Select, which allows an exerciser to easily adjust the cushioning of the deck to any of three different settings, and 18 different pre-programmed workouts, the words of praise for the T7-0 are well earned. The Runner's World article can be seen at
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,5033,s6-52-72-0-9266-1-1X4X8X12X16- 6,00.html

If you're looking for a second opinion on the Life Fitness T7-0 treadmill, the TreadmillDoctor.com ( http://www.treadmilldoctor.com ) makes a diagnosis. In its 2005-2006 Best Buy Awards, TreadmillDoctor.com, an engineering and services company that specializes in the fitness industry, prescribes the T7-0 treadmill, calling it a "home run" and "one of the best treadmills built exclusively for the home" in naming it the first runner up in the Best New Product Category. The site went on to say, "It is simply the best system we have seen yet in terms of simplicity and expected durability." TreadmillDoctor.com also named the Life Fitness T3-5 a "Best Buy", calling the new treadmill "a huge value proposition."

"Receiving such high praise from a mix of important experts and opinion leaders is a great honor," says Dan Wille, vice president, Consumer Retail Business, Life Fitness. "It validates the innovation, technology and high quality that we put into our treadmills and all of our products." You can find all the treadmills at www.2ndwindexercise.com

Posted by Dick Enrico at 08:35 PM | Rave Reviews For New Life Fitness Treadmills | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

2nd Wind Exercise Equipment was one of the first dealers in the nation to feature the Hoist PTS Smith Machine. You can see more of the PTS at www.hoistfitness.com, our Hoist page or visit any of 2nd Wind's 56 Midwest Exercise Locations.

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